Industrial platform



ET AL 2,109,784

March 1, 1938;

F. J,. SHEPARD, JR,

INDUSTRIAL PLATFORM 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet l nnTors. Frederick U.Shepord Ur. Nathaniel Worshow WW &

Filed Nov. 12,

ATTys.

March 1, 1938. F. JZSII-IEPARD, JR" ET 2,109,784 I INDUSTRIAL PLATFORM 1 Filed NOV. 12, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ibiza/:3 2 7 37 FfedeTiCK Lishepard q Nathaniel War h' WWW lnvenTors.

March 19389 F. JpSHEPARD. JR., ET AL 2,109,784

INDUSTRIAL PLATFORM Filed Nov. 12, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Figlfi J1 43 58 Fig.17

5| 2 50 M 44 4s 52 48 f r- I l l lhverflors. 7s FTGdET I CK J. Shepard dr.

NuThani'el'Warshaw Anya.

Patented Mar. 1, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT. omcs mnus'ramr. rm'rroau Frederick J. Shepard, In, vWest Newton, and Nathaniel Warshaw, Mattapan, Mala, assignon to Lewis-Shepard Company, Watertown,

. Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application November 12, 1934, Serial No. 752,648

1 Claims. (01. us -120) than any platform of the same weight which has heretofore been produced. One of the objects of the present invention is to provide means for remedying this defect and also for increasing the strength and rigidity of the platform. This is accomplished in the present invention by providing supplemental girders spaced apart from the end girders respectively it suitable distances such as are determined by the width of one or more floor boards, and rigidly secured to the side frames, so that the supplemental cross girders together with the floor boards between the same and the adjacent end girder will present such a rigid structure as will effectively prevent bending of the front girder and consequent distortion of the platform in the manner above described. Such supplemental cross girder also greatly strengthens the platform against lateral distortion in rough usage, as where the platform is rotated on its edges or corners in moving it from place to place, or where a platform dropped from the top of a pile lands on one of its corners.

Another object of the invention is to provide legs, preferably of general U-shape, presenting wide flat feet to rest upon the floor, and outer and inner leg members extending upwardly from the foot portion'and connected at their upper ends to the side frames and preferably alsoto the front girder, and to a proximate supplemental cross girder, thereby providing a supporting construction of such rigidity that it will not collapse inwardly or outwardly by the load imposed upon it, or by the impact of an elevating truck when pushed beneath the platform at an angle to its length. The larger feet of such leg members are also advantageous in that the wide foot does not wear out as quickly, or wear the floor as much as usual narrow foot members.

Furthermore, when one loaded platform is-tiered upon another loaded platform, the additional resting surface of the wide foot presents a much 50 more secure support and minimizes the liability of the superimposed platform to slip upon the one therebeneath.

' Another object of the invention is to provide a frame construction'for industrial skids or platforms which will permit the building of a lighter platform to sustain a given loadthan other platforms of like capacity.

This is accomplished by providing truss members preferably in the form of angle bars extending longitudinally of and secured to the side 5 frames intermediate of the leg members, thereby increasing the rigidity of the side frame to such an extent that smaller angle bars may be employed for platforms of a given capacity than has heretofore been deemed possible 10 These and other objects and featuresof the invention will more fully appear from the following description and the accompanying drawings and will be particularly pointed out in the claims. l5

Illustrative embodiments of the various novel features of the invention are shown in the accompanying drawings, in which,

Fig. l is a perspective view of a platform or skid construction having an all-welded metal 20 frame and embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 isan enlarged longitudinal vertical sectional view of the construction shown in Fig. 1,

the central portion being broken away;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged end elevation of the con- 5 struction shown in Fig. 1, the central portion being broken away;

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view of the same on lines 4-4 Fig. 2, the central portion being broken away and showing particularly the man- 30 ner in which the upper end of the inner leg member is notched to fit the face of the lower horizontal flange of the side member and the transverse girder, and showing the manner in which the members are welded together; 35

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view showing the end of the inner legmember engaging the horimntal flange of the lower side frame member with a spacer between the upper end of the leg member and the under face of the supplemental horizon- 40 tal girder and also showing the manner in which these members are welded together;

Fig. 6 is a detail view similar to Fig. 5, showing the end portionof the inner leg member abutting against the lower horizontal flange of 45 the side member and welded to said side member, with welding material filling the space between the upper end of said'leg member and the horizontal flange of the supplemental transverse girder; I

flange of the side frame member and the horirental flange of the angle iron truss member; as

Fig. 8 is a side elevation of a reenforced platform construction showing a truss similar to that illustralted in Fig. 7 extending along the longitudinal central portion of the side frame and terminating short of the legs;

Fig. 9 is a side elevation of a platform reenforced by a different form of truss which is connected at its ends to the side frame and also to the inner leg members, with a strut between the central portion of the truss member and the lower horizontal flange of the side frame;

Fig. 10 is a side elevation of a platform similar to that illustrated in Fig. 9, showing a shorter truss member secured at its ends to the horizontal flange of the side frame only;

Fig. 11 is an enlarged detail vertical sectional view on lines H--l| Fig. 7, showing the fabricated construction of the side frame and angle bar truss member and the preferably channelshaped strut positioned midway of the length of the platform between the horizontal flanges of the side frames and the truss member;

Fig. 12 is an enlarged detail view of a modifled form of side frame and truss in which the angle bar truss member is so secured to the lower angle bar of the side frame as to provide a boxlike construction;

Fig. 13 is a view similar to Fig. 12, showing a construction in which the truss member is in the form of a smaller angle bar than that forming the lower member of the fabricated side frame, this construction being particularly adapted for lighter types of platforms;

Fig. 14 is a detail vertical sectional view illustrating another arrangement of side frame and truss members fabricated from angle bars to produce a box-dike reenforced construction;

Fig. 15 is an enlarged detail view showing a different form of fabricated side frame, showing also the horizontal flange of the supplemental girder and the upper portion of the inner leg member notched to engage the under face of the side frame and the horizontal flange of the supplemental girder and the manner in which it is welded thereto;

Fig. 16 is a longitudinal sectional view of an industrial platform or skid embodying the invention, in which the members of the fabricated side frames are rigidly connected together by rivets or other fasteners and in which wide leg members are secured to side frames and horizontal supplemental and/or end girders by bolts, rivets, or other fasteners;

Fig. 17 is a detail view on lines lli|' Fig. 16, showing a spacer equal to the thickness of the horizontal flange of the lower side member interposed between the flanged upper end of the inner leg member and the horizontal flange of the supplemental girder;

Fig. 18 is a view centrally broken away showing at the left a side elevation of the modified form of reenforced platform construction and at the right a longitudinal sectional view thereof;

Fig. 19 is a vertical transverse sectional view on lines i9--i9 Fig. 18, showing the horizon tal flange at the upper end of the leg member split, and the sections thereof secured respectively to the lower horizontal flange of the side member and to the horizontal flange of a transverse girder;

Fig. 20 is a longitudinal sectional view of a four-way platform embodying the invention, in which the fabricated frame is constructed in a different manner to avoid any projection below the lower horizontal flanges of the side frames so that an elevating truck can be introduced longitudinally either beneath the ends or the sides of the platform;

I Fig. 21 is a detail transverse sectional view on lines 2|-2| Fig. '20; and,

Fig. 22 is a detail view showing the frame construction illustrated in Fig. 20, showing a different means for securing the upper end of the leg member to the side frame and to the horizontal girder. I

The platform or skid construction disclosed in all of the figures of the drawings may be generally described as a portable platform comprising floor members, complementary channelshaped metallic side frames, preferably fabrie cated from associated longitudinally overlapping angle bars rigidly fastened together with their horizontal flanges parallel to provide a channel embracing and tightly fitting the ends of the floor boards, with horizontal metal end girders connecting the end portions of the side frames, and supplemental cross girders suitably spaced from the respective end girders by a floor member or members and connected at their ends to the side frames, together with metallic legs mounted on the side frames at or adjacent the ends thereof, and comprising an outer leg member connected to the horizontal flange of the side frame and preferably also to an end girder, a foot portion preferably of considerably greater width than that of the horizontal flange of the side frame and an inner leg member connected to the side frame and also to the proximate supplemental cross girder.

The construction of the fabricated side frames and of the form and arrangement of trusses therefore may be varied as is exemplified by the Illustrative embodiments shown in the drawings. The leg members also may be of different shapes and secured at their ends to the side members and to the horizontal end and/or supplemental girders in various ways, as by welding, bolts, rivets, etc., as shown in the various figures of the drawings. It will therefore be obvious that the invention is not limited to particular details of fabricated side frame construction, or particular types of rigid connections between the several parts, and that the constructions shown and described herein are therefore illustrative of preferred embodiments of the invention.

The particular form of platform or skid illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4 of the drawings comprises complementary side frames each formed of an upper angle bar having a vertical flange l and a. horizontal flange 2 and a lower angle bar having a vertical flange 3 and a horizontal flange l, the vertical flanges i and 3 of the respective angle bars being rigidly secured together in any suitable mariner, but preferably by a continuous or intermittent line of welding 5. In the construction of the side frames the horizontal flanges 2 and 4 are spaced apart such distance as 'to provide channels 6 to receive the end-s of the "floor boards 1, with the horizontal flanges 2 and 4 engaging respectively the upper and lower surfaces of the ends of the floor boards. If desired, the floor boards may be rabbeted at their ends so that the upper faces thereof will be flush with the upper faces of the flanges 2 of the side frames.

The side frames are connected at their ends by end girders 8, preferably of angle iron, which 7 desirably extend into the channel 6 of the side frames, and are secured thereto preferably by welding. In order to strengthen the frame and floor boards It. The horizontal flanges of the supplemental girders, which project into the channel 6 of the side frame, are secured preferably by welding to the side frames. The end floor boards III, which fill the space between the end girder and the supplemental girder, will transmit the force of impact against the end girder to the supplemental girder, so'that the conjoint action of these members will effectively prevent bending of the end girder and consequent distortion of the platform.

In the invention disclosed in Figs. 1 to 4 wide leg members are provided comprising an outer leg member II, a horizontal flat foot member i2, and an inner leg member i3 of greater width than the width of the horizontal flange .of the side frame. The legs preferably are made of flat stock usually substantially thicker than the flanges of the associated angle bars which form the fabricated side frames. The leg and foot members II and I2 desirably are throughout their length of greater width than the width of the horizontal flanges of the members of the side frame, thereby presenting relatively large areas by means of which the inner and outer leg members can be secured not only to the side frame, but also to the supplemental cross girder and preferably also to the end girder.

As illustrated in Fig. 2, the outside leg member is substantially vertical and at its upper end extends across the end of the side frame and is welded thereto and to the upper edge of the end cross girder 8 by a line or lines of welding l4. The leg member may also be welded to the vertical flange of the transverse girder 8 by a line of welding i5.

The inner leg member extends upwardly and rearwardly from the foot I2 and its end engages the horizontal flange 4 of the side frame, and as illustrated in Fig. 4 may be notched to engage also the horizontal flange of the transverse sup.- plemental girder 9. In this construction the inner leg I! is welded both to the lower angle bar of the fabricated: side frame and to the horizontal flange of the transverse supplemental girder 8.

Fig. 5 discloses a modified form of construction in which the upper end of the inner leg I; is not notched, but a metal filler orspacer i8 is introduced into the spacebetween the upper end of the leg member and the lower face of the horizontal flange of the supplemental transverse girder 9. In this construction the spacer or flller is welded both to the supplemental girder 9 and to the upper end of the leg member. The leg member is also welded to the lower angle bar of the side frame.

The construction shown in Fig. 6 is similar to that illustrated in Fig. 5, with the exception that the space between the upper end of the leg member and the horizontal flange of the supplemental transverse girder is fllled entirelywith welding material. Such construction can be readily made particularly where the side frames are fabricated from like angle bars.

In order further to increase the rigidity of the platform or skids of the type described and to enable them to be made of lighter stock than has been used for platforms of like capacity, struts are provided in the present invention for reenforcing the central portions of the side frames against the bending strains produced by heavy loads upon the platform. -In the constructions disclosed herein a truss member, in the form of an angle bar having a vertical flange II and a horizontal flange 2 I, is secured to the lower angle bar of the fabricated side frame. 'As illustrated in'Figs. l to 4, the vertical flanges 20 of the truss member are secured preferably by welding to the vertical flanges I of the side member. The lines of welding securing these flanges together may be continuous or intermittent, or the members may be secured together by rivets, bolts, or in any other suitable manner.

In the construction illustrated in Fig. 2, the horizontal flanges 2i of the truss member are of such width that their edgesf is: are flush with or extend slightly beyond the inside edges of the inner leg members, thereby providing guides,

- adapted to be engaged by the platform of a truck when backed beneath the platform at an angle to its length, and which will prevent engagement of the end of the truck with a rear leg member and will also aid in properly positioning the truck beneath the platform. v

As illustrated in Fig. 2 the ends of the flanges and 2| flt against the inner leg members l3 and are welded thereto. The truss members, therefore, not only strengthen the side frames of the platform against bending stresses, but also reenforce the leg members against lateral distortion when the platform is struck sidewise by a truck carrying one or more platforms.

The construction illustrated in Figs. '1 and 11 is similar in all respects to that illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4 except that a strut, preferably in the .form of a short metallic channel bar 23, is interposed between the horizontal flange 2| of the truss member and the horizontal flange 4 of the? lower angle bar of the side frame, the strut memo forcing the side frames is especially adapted to the lighter types of platforms.

In the construction illustrated in Fig. 9 the side frames are constructed in the manner above described and the leg members suitably secured. Y

preferably by welding, to the side frames, and desirably also to the end and supplemental girders. In this construction the side frames are reenforccd by trusses in the form of rods or bars 26 which are welded respectively at their ends to the side frames and also to the innei leg thembers l3. In this construction the trusses extend downwardly from their lines of attachment to the side frames and struts. are interposed between the central portions of the trusses and the hori-, zontal flanges of the respective lower angle bars of the side frames, the struts being welded both to the horizontal flange of the side frame member and also to the trusses.

In Fig. 10 a construction is disclosed which is similar to that in Fig. 9 except that the truss 26, which may be in the form of a bar, is welded 'or' otherwise secured at its ends to the side frame and not to the inner leg members.

Various forms of side frames and truss reeniorcements embodying the invention differing from that shown in Figs. 7 and 11 are illustrated in Figs. 12, 13, and 14. The construction illustrated in Fig. 12 comprises side frames fabricated from longitudinally overlapping angle bars having the vertical flanges I and 3 connected together with the horizontal flanges 2 and 4 embracing the ends of the floor members i. The truss member comprises an-angle bar having a vertical flange 23 and a horizontal flange 23, the

upper edge of the flange 28 being welded to the horizontal flange 4 of the lower side bar member, and the horizontal flange 23 being welded to the vertical flange 3 of the lower side bar member, thereby forming a b0xlike girder construction of great rigidity.

Fig. 13 shows a similar construction in which the truss member comprises a smaller angle bar having a vertical flange 33 and a horizontal flange 3| welded respectively at their edges to the horizontal flange 4 and vertical flange 3 of the lower angle bar of the fabricated side frame. This construction is adapted for relatively lighter platforms than those constructed as illustrated in Fig. 12.

In Fig. 14 a modifled side frame construction is illustrated comprising an upper angle bar having a horizontal flange 32 and a vertical flange 33 associated with a lower angle bar having a vertical flange 34 welded to the vertical flange 33 so that the horizontal flange 35 will extend inwardly. The channel-shaped side frame is formed by another angle bar having a horizontal flange 35 which desirably rests upon the upper end of the flange 34 and may be welded thereto with the vertical flange 31 resting upon and welded to the horizontal flange 35 of the lower angle bar. In, this construction the space between the horizontal flange 35 and theunder face of the upper flange 32 provides a channel 38 which receives the ends of the floor board members.

Fig. 15 illustrates another form of fabricated side frame comprising an upper angle bar having a vertical flange 39 and a horizontal flange 40 adapted to engage the upper face of the floor board. This upper angle bar is associated with a lower angle bar having a vertical flange 4| overlapping the flange 40 and secured thereto by welding with the lower horizontal flange 42 extending inwardly in parallelism with the flange 40 of the upper angle bar. The floor boards I and the horizontal flange of the transverse end girder are shown as extending into the channel formed by the upper and lower angle bars, and the inner leg member I3 is illustrated as notched at its upper end and secured to the flange 4| of the lower side frame member and the horizontal flange of the supplem:ntal girder 3 by welding in the manner heretofore described. This construction is particularly adapted to the fourway type of platform as nothing extends below the horizontal flange 42 between the inner leg members so that the elevating truck can be introduced beneath the side of the platform as well as beneath the end thereof.

The invention is disclosed in Figs. 1 to 15 of the drawings with particular reference to an integral all-welded platform frame construction which in the practical manufacture of platforms or skids is found to be most economical and satisfactory particularly with respect to the uniform rigidity of the platforms or skids so constructed. Furthermore, the rigidity of the allwelded frame construction enables the use of softwood. such as Oregon flr, and the like, which are not tough enough to hold bolts, and which may be employed where service does not require the use of hardwood as in the handling of metal, castings, and the like.

Illustrative embodiments of such other types of trucks embodying the invention are shown in Figs. 16 to 22 inclusive. In the construction illustrated in Fig. 16, the side frames each are fabricated from longitudinally overlapping angle bars, the flanges of which are secured together by rivets or bolts. In the particular construction illustrated in Figs. 16 and 17 the side frames comprise an upper angle bar having a horizontal flange 43 and a vertical flange 44 and a lower angle bar having a horizontal flange 45 parallel to the horizontal flange 43 and a vertical flange 48 which engages the vertical flange 44 and is secured thereto by suitable rivets or bolts 41 spaced apart at suitable intervals. In fabricating said side frames the-horizontal flanges of the upper and lower angle bars are spaced apart such distance as will cause them to engage flrmly the upper and lower faces of the floor boards 43. as above described.

In this construction the side frames are connected by horizontal angle iron end girders 45 the ends of which extend into the channels of the side frames and the horizontal flanges 50 of which rest upon the horizontal flanges 45 of the lower angle bar of the side frame. In this construction likewise supplemental horizontal girders 5| of angle iron extend at their ends into the channels of the respective side frames with their horizontal flanges 52 resting upon the horizontal flanges 45 of the lower members of the side frames.

In this construction the leg members are formed of flat stock bent into U-shape to provide outer leg members 53, foot members 54, and inner leg members 55. The outer and inner leg members are bent at their .ends to provide horizontal flanges 55 and 51 adapted to engage respectively the lower flanges 45 of the side frames. The flanges 55 of the outer leg members are secured to the side frames and to the horizontal end girders 43 by, bolts 58 which extend through the upper and lower flanges 43 and 45 of the side frames. the floor boards and the horizontal flanges 53 of the end girders therebetween, thereby rigidly binding all of these parts together. Similarly, the flanges 51 of the inner leg members 55 are secured to the side frames by bolts 59 which extend through the upper and lower horizontal flanges 43 and 45 of the side frames and the floor board and the horizontal flange of the supplemental girder therebetween.

In this platform or skid construction the leg members are of greater width than the width of the side frame to provide wide feet and the flanges at the upper ends of the leg members are suitably secured to the horizontal flanges of the end and supplemental girders to increase the rigidity of the platform.

In view of the fact that the horizontal flanges 50 of the end girder and the horizontal flange 52 of the supplemental girder rest upon the horizontal flanges 45 of the side frames, a space will remain between the horizontal flanges 56 and 51 of the inner and outer leg members and the horizontal flanges 5D and 52 of the end and supplemental girders respectively. In order to make suitable connection therefore between the inner portion of the horizontal flanges of the leg members and the horizontal girder, some expedient must be employed. In the construction shown in Figs. 16 and 17, a spacing plate or shim is interposed between the upper end of the flange 51 of the inner leg member and the horizontal flange 52 of the supplemental girder. These parts are rigidly secured together by a rivet 6|. Such additional connection will substantially increase the rigidity of the construction.

In the construction illustrated in Figs. 18 and 19 the side frames and the connecting end and supplemental girders and legs, and the means for securing the legs to the side frames and end and supplemental girders may be and are the same as shown in Figs. 16 and 17, with the exception that in the construction illustrated in Fig. 19 the flanges l1 and II of the inner and outer leg members are slitted longitudinally, and one of the sections 62 of the flanges offset upwardly and secured directly to the horizontal flange 52 of the supplemental girder by rivets 83.

In the construction illustrated in Figs. 18 and 19, the side frames are reenforced'by angle iron trusses having vertical flanges 64 which are secured by a series of rivets to the vertical flanges ll of the lower side frame members. These truss members may extend only along the central portion of the side frames, or throughout the whole distance between the inner leg members if de-' sired and the horizontal flanges 66 of the trusses may be of any desired width. Such reenforcing trusses may also employed in the constructions shown in Figs. 16 and 1'7.

In Figs. 20, 21, and 22, a four-way platform or skid construction is shown in which the associated angle bars forming the side frames are differently arranged and in such manner as to avoid any downwardly extending flange which would interfere with the introduction of a truck beneath the frame from its side.

In this construction the side frame comprises an upper angle bar having a horizontal flange 81 and a vertical flange 68 and a lower angle bar having a vertical flange 69 which overlies and engages the vertical flange 68 and a horizontal flange III which extends in parallelism with the flange 61 and is spaced apart therefrom the de sired thickness of the floor board I I. In this construction the horizontal end girders" and supplemental transverse girders 13 extend at their ends into the channels of the side frames, as above described. U-shaped legs, preferably of flat stock considerably. Wider than the flanges of the side frames, are provided and comprise outer leg members 14, feet 15 and inner leg members 16. The inner and outerleg members are provided at their ends with horizontal flanges I1 and 18.

In the construction illustrated in Fig. 21 the horizontal flanges 81 and Ill, the floor board II, and the horizontal flange of the supplemental cross girder are secured together and to the leg members I1 by bolts 19. Similar bolts 80, secure the horizontal flanges of the side frame, the floor board and horizontal end girder and the flange 18 of the outer leg member rigidly together. In this construction a fllling piece or spacer BI is interposed between the flange TI and the horizontal flange 13 of the supplemental girder and is.

secured by a rivet 82 to the flange 11 and/or to the horizontal flange of the, supplemental girder.

The construction shown in detail in Fig. 22 is similar to that illustrated in Fig. 21,- except that the flange l1, and also the flange 18, at the upper end of the leg members are slitted longitudinally to provide an offset portion 83 which is se cured directly to the horizontal flange of the supplemental girder II by a rivet M in the manner heretofore described in respect to Fig. 19.

It is, therefore, apparent that the constructions disclosed in Figs. 16 to 22 inclusive embody the wide foot construction and/or the truss reenforcements of the character disclosed in Figs.

1 to 15 inclusive,.diifering only in that the, members of the side frames are secured together by bolts or rivets, and in that the assemblage of the side frames, horizontal end girders, supplemental girders, and legs, are rigidly secured together by bolts instead of by welding.

It will therefore be understood that the particular embodiments of the invention specifically disclosed herein are of an illustrative character and are not restrictive of the meaning and scope of the claims. and that various changes inconstruction and arrangement of parts may be made within the spirit and scope of the claims.

Havingthus described the invention, what is claimed as new, and desired to be secured by Let-. ters Patent, is:

l. A portableplatform comprising floor mem-' bers, complementary channel-shaped side frames each having a vertical wall extending across the ends of the floor members and horizontal flanges overlying and underlying the end portions of said floor members, horizontal metal end girders having their ends extending into the channels of said side frames and resting upon the lower horizontal flanges of said side frames and rigidly secured to said side frames, supplemental -angle iron cross girders suitably spaced from the respective end girders by floor members and having their ends extending into the channels of said side.

from associated upper and lower angle bars having overlapping vertical flanges welded together to present a channel embracing the ends of said floor members, horizontal end girders welded to said side frames, pairs oi integral metal legs each comprising an outer member welded to said side frame adjacent its end, a foot portion and an inner leg member welded to said side frame, and reenforcing angle bar truss members located between the inner leg members of the respective side frames and welded to the lower angle bars of said side frames with their horizontal flanges well below the lower horizontal flanges of the side frame.

3. A portable platform. comprising floor members, complementary side frames each fabricated from associated upper and lower angle bars having overlapping vertical flanges welded together to present a channel embracing the ends of said floor members, horizontal end girders welded to.

said side frames, pairs of integral metal legs each comprising an outer member welded to said side frame adjacent its end, a foot portion and an inner leg member welded to said side frame, reenforcing angle bar truss members located between the inner leg members of the respective side frames welded to the vertical flanges of said side frames with their horizontal flanges located well below the lower horizontal flanges of the side bars, and struts'interposed between the central portions of the respective truss members and a horizontal flange of the side frame.

4. A portable platform comprising floor members, complementary side frames each fabricated from associated upper and lower angle bars having vertical flanges welded together to present a channel embracing the ends of said floor members, horizontal end girders welded to saidside frames, supplemental cross girders suitably spaced from the respective end girders by floor members extending into said channels and welded to said side frames, integral metal legs each comprising an outer member welded to said side frames and to the end girder, a foot portion and an inner leg member welded to said side frame and to the proximate supplemental cross girder, and reenforcing angle bar truss members each having its vertical flange and horizontal flange welded to the inner leg members of each side frame and its vertical flange welded to the side frame.

5. A portable platform comprising floor'members, complementary side frames each fabricated from associated angle bars having overlapping downwardly extending vertical flanges welded together to present a channel embracing the ends of said floor members, horizontal end girders welded to said side frames, integral metal legs each comprising an outer member welded to said side frame, a foot portion and an inner leg member welded to said side frame, and a reenforcing angle bar forming a truss located between the inner leg members of each side frame having its vertical flange welded to the vertical flange of the side frame with the edge of its horizontal flange spaced apart from the lower face of the platform and extending to the vertical plane of the inner edges of said leg members to form a guide for a truck when backed beneath said platform.

6. A portable platform comprising floor members, complementary side frames each fabricated from associated angle bars having overlapping downwardly extending vertical flanges welded together to present a channel embracing the ends of said floor members, horizontal end girders welded to said side frames, supplemental cross girders suitably spaced by floor members from the respective end girders extending into said channels and welded to said side frames, integral metal U-shaped legs of greater width than the horizontal flanges of said side frames each comprising an outer member welded to the end of the side frame and to said end girder, a foot portion and an inner member welded to said side frame and to the proximate supplemental end girder, and a reenforcing angle bar truss having its flanges welded respectively to the vertical and horizontal flanges of the lower angle bar of the side frame to provide a box-like construction.

7. A portable platform comprising floor boards, complementary side frames each fabricated from longitudinally overlapping angle bars having their horizontal flanges parallel to provide a channel embracing and tightly fitting the ends of the floor boards, horizontal angle bar girders extending at their ends into said channels, supplemental angle bar girders suitably spaced from said end girders and extending at their ends into said channels, U-shaped legs comprising outer and inner leg members having flanged upper ends underlying said end and supplemental girders and bolts extending respectively through the horizontal flanges of said side members, end girders and supplemental girders and through the flanges of said inner and outer legs, clamping said side members upon said floor boards and securing said leg members to said side members and to said endv and said supplemental girders, said leg members being wider than the horizontal flanges of said side members and having their flanges slitted longitudinally, and rivets connecting the portions of said flanges underlying the supplemental girder to said supplemental girder.

FREDERICK J. SHEPARD, JR. NATHANIEL WARSHAW. 

